Ends and Means

This novel is set in the University sector. It explores two themes of major importance in education and research. The first addresses what is proper and acceptable behaviour between academic staff and the students in their care. What seems at first a matter of indiscipline in examination marking becomes a moral issue of 'marks for sexual favours' with racial overtones that culminates in the finding of a foetus in the ladies' toilet and the more serious consequences of that. The expression of power by pharmaceutical companies when they contract out research to individuals and University Departments is also explored as is the question of who is responsible for the outcome of that research if it has consequences for the human population at large. How moral is a single researcher required to be when faced with the power of a large company? How far does his responsibility extend? These two themes are drawn together and shown to have much to do with the exercise of power and the exploitation of privilege at the individual and Corporate levels.